Adin
Ancestor of an Israelite clan that returned from exile
Adin is known as the ancestor of one of the many Israelite families that returned from Babylon to Judah following the Persian Empire's policy of liberation. His name appears in the central lists of returning families: Ezra’s register mentions 454 descendants who returned with Zerubbabel, while Nehemiah’s parallel list counts 655—a difference reflecting the complex history behind these records. In a later wave of return, an additional 50 men came under the leadership of Ebed, son of Jonathan. The significance of this family in the restored community is confirmed by the fact that a representative from Adin’s house was among those who sealed the solemn covenant under Nehemiah—a commitment to live according to God’s torah, keep the Sabbath, and preserve the integrity of the community. Through these sources, Adin’s lineage emerges as a concrete example of how genealogical belonging formed the very foundation of Jewish identity and rights in the post-exilic period.
Key events
Descendants of Adin in Zerubbabel's caravan
454 descendants of Adin returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel during the first return after the Babylonian exile.
Recorded in Nehemiah's register
The clan of Adin is listed with 655 people in Nehemiah's parallel register of those who returned from exile. The difference from Ezra's figure of 454 may be due to different times of registration or variations in manuscript tradition.
Further descendants return with Ezra
A group of Adin's descendants, led by Ebed son of Jonathan, returned with Ezra during a later return. This group consisted of 50 men.
Sealing the covenant
A representative of Adin's clan was among the leaders who sealed the covenant with God under Nehemiah's leadership, committing themselves to follow God's law, keep the Sabbath, and live separately from the surrounding nations.